A Democrat-dominated city council in Danbury, Connecticut, is facing backlash over new police guidance that the Department of Homeland Security says is "encouraging criminal illegal aliens."The city council voted 18-2 last week to approve non-citizen legal immigrants and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients serving as police officers.One city council member, Democrat Joe Britton, remarked that the vote was "timely" considering recent ICE operations in the area and "sends a message to our immigrant community at large that you are welcome in Danbury."In response, a spokesperson for DHS fired back that the city council "should be thanking our law enforcement for removing these dangerous criminals from Connecticut—NOT vilifying law enforcement.""An oath of office is a commitment to upholding the law, not encouraging criminal illegal aliens to break it," the spokesperson added, saying that "while these people smear ICE, law enforcement is arresting criminals and saving countless American lives."NON-CITIZEN POLICE OFFICERS APPROVED AFTER DEM SAYS ICE 'INVASION' 'SENDS A MESSAGE'With protesters in the crowd calling for more direct action to combat ICE raids, Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves joined Governor Ned Lamont, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, and Senator Chris Murphy at Kennedy Park in Danbury, Conn.
on August 26, 2026 to condemn the actions of the agency, which has been detaining dozens of people Monday and Tuesday.Everyone has constitutional rights in this country, regardless of immigration status, he said, encouraging activists to record officers from a safe distance.
(Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public via Getty Images)Britton denied these claims, telling Fox News Digital that "DHS is attacking an argument I never made" and "I have no objection to arresting violent criminals."August ICE operations in Connecticut resulted in more than 65 arrests, according to an ICE news release.The arrests prompted public outrage in the community, inclu...